White Fields Community Church expands food pantry.

Longmont-based White Fields Community Church announced that it has expanded its food pantry, which is known as Table of Hope, and is serving more residents in need.

“We have relocated the pantry to a much larger area in our building, and are now open; however, only a very small amount of people are coming in to get food and help,” church spokeswoman Angela Scohy wrote in the announcement.

Table of Hope Food Pantry volunteers, from left, Kendra Cito, Lisa Criger and Sara Betsch, fill a box with food items for a family in need on Friday at White Fields Community Church in Longmont. (Timothy Hurst/Staff Photographer)

Table of Hope food pantry, which began last fall, serves Longmont as well as southwest Weld County residents and is at 2950 Colorful Ave. in Longmont.

“It was really something that had been talked about for a while, amongst the leadership of White Fields Community Church. And so finally we kind of got somebody who had some energy and said hey let’s get this going,” food pantry spokeswoman Kendra Cito said Monday.

She also said the church had been discussing the improved food pantry since before the COVID-19 pandemic began and it sprung from the church’s desire to serve the community in a better way. She also said the church wanted to provide residents with more than just food, “not just the tangible food items but also spiritual offerings — to be an ear and offering prayer if they are comfortable doing so.”

Residents will receive a food box each week based on their household size and currently offers nonperishable and staple food items until they see more residents utilizing their services to prevent food from spoiling, Cito said.

Items that can be found in the food boxes include:

  • beans — dry or canned
  • peanut butter
  • jelly
  • fruit — canned and fresh
  • oatmeal or Cheerios
  • bread or tortillas
  • noodles or rice
  • tomato sauce or spaghetti sauce
  • potatoes — fresh or dried
  • veggies — frozen or canned
  • soup or stew — canned
  • mac & cheese
  • hamburger, tuna or chicken — canned
  • diapers and wipes if requested

Cito said the church soon would like to add fresher food items and maybe help families experiencing hospitalization by giving them food boxes with foods that are easy to prepare.

“We’re reaching out to families that are in the hospital that can’t get to the grocery store or are worried about the financial burden that they’ll have to get food but can’t because they’re spending all their time at the hospital and when they get home are too tired,” Cito said. She said it’s their hope that other community members could help by delivering these food boxes to these families in the future.

Read the full article on Times-Call newspaper below.

https://www.timescall.com/2021/03/08/white-fields-community-church-expands-food-pantry/

A place at the table

When our children were young, I found comfort in having prepared meals in the freezer. Prepared meals didn’t just take the guess work out of, “Mom! What’s for dinner?”, but reduced panic when unexpected guests arrived. I was also prepared if I learned of someone in need of a meal. I had extra meals so I could help others. We could always find extra room at the table for a guest. I enjoy having guests over to share a meal with our family.

Did you know Jesus also enjoyed sharing meals with others? Jesus went to Zacchaeus’ house to stay and eat? Jesus made breakfast for his followers. Jesus welcomed everyone to eat at His table.

In the same way, Table-of-Hope welcomes you to Our table. We are hear to serve you. The mission of our food pantry is to extend a helping hand to those in need throughout Longmont and SW Weld County. Empowered by the love of Jesus, we want to reach out to our neighbors. Luke 25:35-36 says, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”  We welcome you to come and eat at our table!